DiMarco junior aiming to capitalise on International Series Oman invite
The name DiMarco will resonate with golf fans of a certain vintage after that epic Masters duel between Chris DiMarco and Tiger Woods in 2005 that ultimately went the way of the Tiger – after a first-hole play-off at Augusta National gave the golfing phenomenon a fourth Green Jacket.
For sports fans following the Asian Tour and The International Series, there is a real chance they could see more of the name again, with Chris’ son Cristian DiMarco making his debut at the International Series Oman which starts today.
The 28-year-old tees it up at Al Mouj Golf alongside the cream of the Asian Tour and a host of LIV Golf League stars, thanks to a tournament invite.
DiMarco, who has been playing on the Canada and Americas PGA Tours for the past four years, explained: “It is kind of a funny story, I was actually playing at Old Memorial in Tampa and Graeme McDowell was also playing. He is good buddies with my Dad, and we were chatting, and he asked what my plan was. I said I don’t actually know this year until summer, and he mentioned the Asian Tour and I was all ears!”
Chris DiMarco talks over his tee shot with his son and caddie Cristian at the Reno-Tahoe Open in 2013. Picture by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images.
So, is DiMarco hoping to follow in the footsteps of his compatriot Andy Ogletree, who graduated to the LIV Golf League, and a lucrative spot on Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC, after winning The International Series Ranking last season?
He’s remaining philosophical.
“Yes and no,” he said. “Good golf takes care of itself. It is cool that if you play really good golf you can get on that tour. That’s awesome. That tour is sweet – a little more unorthodox than I grew up watching, but I still think it is great golf and the money is great. I’m over here as a one off and excited to see what is going on. I’m excited for the opportunity and see how far that takes me.
“If I go home with nothing that’s fine too, I’m just over here to play golf. I view it as a chance to play against great players, and I will always take that chance. The golf landscape has changed so much and got truly global. I don’t know what opportunities will arise, but I will take any I can.”
So, what does his father, Chris think about a stint on the other side of the world?
“For him, he just wants me to have that opportunity. He knows I’m close – whether that’s this week or a week down the road. Just keep signing up and playing where you can play and see what happens.”
It’s not just the name that will be of interest to golf enthusiasts. DiMarco is a rare breed; a leftie who putts with his natural right hand.
He explains: “When I could stand up and walk, Dad gave me a club that went both ways. For some reason, I always swung lefty. He tried to turn me around and go righty at one point but the left version was always better.
“For putting, I guess Dad always had putters lying around and so I just got used to it. I have never owned or used a left-hand putter, it’s the best part of my game.”
DiMarco senior, a three-time PGA Tour winner, could arguably have had much more success in the game. Prior to his narrow miss at Augusta in 2005, he had lost out at another play-off, this time to Vijay Singh, in the 2004 US PGA Championship at Whistling Straights.
A year after that Masters moment, he finished runner up in the 2006 Open at Royal Liverpool, losing out once again to an imperious Woods.
Cristian DiMarco during an official practice round at the International Series Oman. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
It’s no surprise how much of an inspiration he is to DiMarco junior.
“Watching him play I always wanted to do it, because you always want to do what your Dad does – it just so happened my Dad was playing in the Masters against Tiger Woods! But yes, that’s when I knew what I wanted to do, in 05 was when I began to really feel that and know what it was that I really wanted to do.”
He tees-off today at 1.05pm local time.
The International Series Oman, the opening event on this year’s International Series which starts this Thursday, marks the first time that two full LIV Golf League teams tee it up alongside one another on one of the Asian Tour’s elevated events.
Torque GC’s South American stars (main picture) Joaquin Niemann, Sebastian Munoz, Mito Pereira and Carlos Ortiz have all been confirmed in a star-studded field along with Stinger GC’s South African quartet of Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Dean Burmester on the testing Al Mouj Golf from 22-25 February.
International Series Oman is the first of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour calendar which offer bigger purses, world-class destinations and an open pathway to the LIV Golf League for players from all over the world.
Like several events on The International Series schedule this season, it also offers something invaluable for the stars of the LIV Golf League – aside from the prize money.
Jaoquin Niemann. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The first date of the 2024 season takes place a week before the LIV Golf Jeddah event at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, offering the perfect opportunity for a team tune-up and world ranking points.
In-form Niemann, the team captain at Torque GC and winner of the season-opening LIV Golf Mayakoba event in Mexico, has a number of reasons for wanting to compete at Al Mouj Golf, where he finished joint fifth last season behind Japanese star Takumi Kanaya.
The Chilean, who shot a stunning 59 on his way to victory in Mexico, and also won the ISPS Handa Australian Open earlier in the season, said: “The International Series events are big for me right now. It will be a lot of help to play good there, get some points, and try to get into the Majors.
“The events are great. They run like first-class tournaments, and they are always at really nice venues and great golf courses. I can only say great things about those tournaments. I’ve played in two or three of them, and it’s been unbelievable. Each one of them.
“It will be nice to have the whole team playing on The International Series. I think as a team, we’re not only obviously competing together during the LIV Golf season, but we’re going to try to play almost every tournament we can together.
“With all The International Series, we’re going to try to fly together. It will be nice to be playing against each other at Oman for the first tournament, we’re looking forward to it. Hopefully, we get a nice Sunday where we’re going to all play together. It’ll be cool,” added the Chilean.
Team Torque GC. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Mexican team-mate Ortiz added: “It’s great, we’ve always been a team, we always like to play the same events and went to the same places together, so it just makes sense continuing the season there.”
Stinger GC skipper Oosthuizen explained the thinking behind the decision to enter the whole team this year. The 2010 Open champion said: “We’re excited because after that we have got LIV Golf Jeddah and Hong Kong, so we decided to do a whole trip. We can warm up in Oman, but also I played there last year and I loved the golf course. It is a good track and a good way to start the international ‘swing’ for us.
“You can definitely work out a good schedule to play before the LIV events, to play yourself into a little bit of form. I think those are very important to have, those one or two extra events just to get ready for the season.”
2011 Masters champion Schwartzel agreed with the assessment. “Oman’s a great place, I went there last year, so I managed to convince everybody to come and join. We are really excited about playing in The International Series.
“Some guys can get away with playing very little golf, while some guys really need to play in tournaments. I am one of those guys – I like to get tournament fit, so playing an event like International Series Oman before a LIV event, definitely helps me get fine-tuned.”
Burmester, who finished tied third in LIV Golf’s season opener in Mexico at the start of February added: “It’s special. We spoke about it when the schedule came out and all of us were excited to go back to Al Mouj and Oman, it’s a great golf course.
“We’re always really, really well looked after there, so we’re excited to head there and to have all four of us. Hopefully, one of us can compete or lift the trophy.”
The 34-year-old is keen to add further dates on The International Series into his diary, as he explained: “Last year I played back-to-back events in Scotland and England, and this year, I am looking to widen my horizon and see where they fit into the schedule.
“We’ve got some exciting places, Morocco, and Macau, we’ve got so many beautiful places to go and play those events and then come back to LIV Golf sharp and ready to compete.”
The event is the second leg of the season on the Asian Tour, following last week’s IRS Prima Malaysian Open – which was won by Spain’s David Puig, who played for Fireballs GC on the LIV Golf League. He is also playing this week.
The Philippine’s ace golfer Miguel Tabuena clearly means business this year.
Off the back of an outstanding 2023 – when he finished second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and won The DGC Open presented by Mastercard – the 29-year-old has even bigger plans for the new season.
Speaking at this week’s IRS Prima Malaysian Open, the Asian Tour’s season opener, the Filipino talked off boot camp, winning the Order of Merit, LIV Golf League qualification, and, probably the most important of all, his new baby daughter Paloma.
“It is nice to be playing again this week,” said Tabuena, who is in contention this week, after opening rounds of 66 and 65 put him two off the lead.
“I played a local event in the Philippines when I wasn’t in any kind of form, but I am pretty happy because we had a daughter last December, her name is Paloma.
Miguel Tabuena. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It has been so much fun, such an experience, I miss her everyday and it makes golf a bit easier. Even the bad days are as good as the good days.
“I actually have a picture of her in the back of my yardage book. It just keeps everything in order.”
That new-found feeling of fatherhood seems to have given the talented young golfer extra incentive to have an even better season this year, with some lofty objectives and intensive planning.
His lack of golf over December and January because of Paloma’s arrival meant he decided to do an 11-day boot camp a few weeks ago at his home club, The Country Club in Manila, in order to get ready for 2024.
He worked out twice a day, did a lot of conditioning, and played a lot of golf.
“I just worked really hard with the team on and off the course and we set some goals, not just for me but for everyone in the team. It also helped with some chemistry as well as goals,” explained Tabuena.
“First goal this year is to win the Order of Merit but there are smaller goals to that, play well in all the Asian Tour events, especially The International Series tournaments.
“And my team will be with me at all International Series events, it’s me, my caddie, my coach and I have a chiropractor, and a strength conditioning coach.”
His first priority is The International Series Ranking, the Tour’s pathway to the LIV Golf League.
Miguel after winning last year’s The DGC Open presented by Mastercard at Delhi Golf Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Winning the ranking, which he is more than capable of doing, will secure him a place on the multi-million-dollar franchise which has taken the game by storm but he also wants to ensure a top-eight finish which will allow him to by-pass round one of the LIV Golf Promotions event.
“It is going to be a lot of travel this year,” he added.
“I am looking forward to it but it’s nice to have a different approach this year, with this team, and a daughter as well.”
He is also fully aware that a top-three finish this week will earn him a place in the Open Championship at Royal Troon in July. He hasn’t played in the event before, so that’s also on his long list of goals for 2024.
John Catlin did what he does best today play his best golf in Asia after he fired his second successive six-under-par 65 in the US$1 million IRS Prima Malaysian Open.
The American made light work of the golf course at The Mines Resort and Golf Club going bogey free and nailing six birdies.
He is in second place after the morning flights came in on day two, here in Kuala Lumpur.
Australian Kevin Yuan has the clubhouse lead on 13-under following a 64, one ahead of Catlin.
After a poor season by Catlin’s high standards last year on the DP World Tour – he finished 151st on their rankings – today’s round was an encouraging performance by a player who first made his name on the Asian Tour.
John Catlin. Picture by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour.
He said: “Nice to go bogey free, just had one bogey yesterday. It is always nice when you can keep bogeys off the scorecard. Made a 12-footer on the last to stay bogey free. It felt nice. I am just glad all the work that I am putting in is starting to pay off and I am starting to play better golf, starting to get back in the mix.”
The 33 year old from California won three-times on the Asian Tour in 2018, when he was voted the Player’s Player of the Year, and also triumphed once the following season. That success came off the back of two Asian Development Tour (ADT) victories.
He chose to play mainly in Europe soon after, and once again he was on the victory trail securing two titles there in 2020, back-to-back, and another in 2021.
He was the one of the game’s most in-form players, expected to keep on topping up his trophy cabinet.
However, 2022 in Europe also did not go well for him as he ended 90th on the rankings, and not being able to play the required quota of events on the Asian Tour last year meant he had to return to the Qualifying School last month in Hua Hin, Thailand.
As expected, he comfortably claimed his card finishing 19th – helped by the fact that Hua Hin is his second home as he rents a place there, just down the road from Springfield Royal Country Club, venue for the final round of the Qualifying School.
And now on the shoulder of the leader in the Asian Tour’s season-opening event, John Catlin’s name on the leaderboard is turning more than a few heads.
“Despite a difficult few years, I have kept very positive. I have learned a lot from that. I don’t think anyone goes through golf without ups and downs. It is not a linear curve to the top. It’s peaks and valleys but I feel stronger now than I did before,” he added.
John Catlin. Picture by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour.
“Me and my coach have been putting in hard work on my swing just to try to continue to get better. That’s kind of what we have done for 10 years now.”
This week’s event is also part of The Open Qualifying Series, meaning the top three finishers not otherwise exempt, make it through to the game’s oldest Major at Royal Troon Golf Club in July.
Catlin has already played in the event twice, missing the cut in 2021 and 2022, and would dearly love to have another crack at it by capitalising on his love of Asia this week.
He said: “I feel very comfortable out here. Four wins and a lot of good finishes. I lived here for five years. I feel comfortable on this grass, I am pretty good at reading grain, And I think that’s a big part of it out here.”
So, could this be the week the Catlin-gun breaks back into the winners’ circle again? He looks hungry for it, with a number of factors working in his favour.
Malaysia has been good to him as he won the Sarawak Championship in 2018 on the Asian Tour and the 2017 EurAsia Perak Championship on the ADT; he has a liking for National Opens, as he claimed the Thailand Open in 2019, also on the Asian Tour; and he is doing what he loves to do the most, playing golf on the fairways of the Far East.
It looks like Khavish Varadan’s decision to return to Malaysia having lived in the United States for nearly nine years was the right choice to make.
The highly regarded Malaysian shot a fine seven-under-par 64 today in the first-round of the US$1million IRS Prima Malaysian Open at The Mine Resort and Golf Club to sit in joint fourth position.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Indian Veer Ahlawat have the lead after shooting sizzling 62s – in the first event of the season on the Asian Tour.
Varadan, the joint leading Malaysian along with his decorated compatriot Gavin Green, only turned professional at the Asian Tour Qualifying School last month, having opted not to complete the final year of his degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“I am actually really enjoying being a professional as I like to do things on my own,” said Varadan, who was unable to secure a card at qualifying school and will focus on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) and Malaysia’s local circuit.
Khavish Varadan. Picture by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour.
He bogeyed the first hole today but recovered with four birdies in a row from the third, and another on nine. Later, he made four birdies on the second nine and one bogey.
Said the 23-year-old: “I bogeyed the first today but better to bogey the first on the first day than the last on the last day.
“The first day you must always put yourself into position, but I am normally not that good on the first days, and I am always catching up the last couple of days. The goal is to keep myself in position and that’s what I did.”
His golfing career State side was hampered by a damaged nerve in his neck which lasted three years and forced him to sit out six months in 2022.
“I think things are now slowly coming together,” he said.
“I hit the ball really well at Q School, but I have been struggling with my putter as it’s taking time to adapt to the greens in Asia.”
This week’s event is part of The Open Qualifying Series meaning the leading three, not otherwise exempt, will earn a place in this summer’s Open Championship at Royal Troon.
Being able to play in a Major is one of the goals he has set himself in his rookie year, but it’s not just a top-three finish he is eyeing.
He said: “The thing is I have really high expectations of myself, I would love to tee up in a Major this year. But I am trying to win this week, my goal is to win every time I tee it up whether it is the Masters, or a local event.”
Fortunately the confident young golfer is also able to draw on the experience of Iain Steel – a close friend and formerly one of Malaysia’s top golfers, who played on the Asian Tour, and won two ADT events.
Explained Varadan: “Iain said ‘the ball is not going to listen to you, just take your opportunities over there when you can, and you will do well’, he has been a really big help.”
Teeing off in the first group out today he is clearly wasting no time in heeding Steel’s advice.
To quote the Rolling Stones, Gaganjeet Bhullar Can’t Get No Satisfaction.
Winner of 11 titles, which makes him the third most successful player in the history of the Asian Tour, the 35-year-old Indian has now set his sights firmly on winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
His craving to become the sixth Indian player to end the year as number one just got more intense after a fantastic 2023, in which the Chandigarh-based professional finished third behind Andy Ogletree and Miguel Tabuena.
It would only be a natural progression for Bhullar, who finished number six in 2009, improved to fifth place in 2012 and 2013, then bettered it to a fourth place in 2018, before the third-place last year.
As he starts a new season at the IRS Prima Malaysian Open this week, Bhullar revealed some of the goals he has set for himself in 2024.
“It’s absolutely a top goal for me,” said Bhullar, winner of the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE last year, following which he also won the season-ending TATA Steel Tour Championship on the domestic Indian Tour. “So many of my friends have done that, and I am very eager to join that club.
Gaganjeet Bhullar of India pictured with the winner’s trophy on Sunday, November 19, 2023, after the BNI Indonesia Masters, presented by TNE at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club, Jakarta, Indonesia. The Asian Tour event has a prize fund of US$ 1.5 million and is being held from November 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“When I won in Indonesia, the field was stacked as it was an International Series event. I played with Patrick Reed, who is a major champion, on Saturday. Winning that tournament has given me a different outlook. I personally feel that I’m ready to step up the game and I’m ready to go for the Order of Merit.”
A by-product of that, even though it involves him doing well on The International Series Order of Merit, would be his other goal of making it to LIV Golf in 2025. The number one player on International Series is guaranteed a spot in the LIV Golf League.
“Ever since I turned pro 17 years ago, I have always made goals for the year. These days, you must be very specific. It’s like you need to know exactly which flight are you taking? Which hotel are you staying in? How do you get there? If you have planned before, things become a lot easier,” said Bhullar, who made it to the final stage of the LIV Promotions event last year, but faltered on the final day.
“We all are very aware of the situation golf is in. The lack of world ranking points on the Asian Tour, and other Tours, is shocking. I won the PGTI Tour Championship, and I got just 1.4 points for it, whereas it used to be seven points in previous years. The Asian Tour has decided to go the Saudi way, the LIV way. So, making it to LIV Golf is another big goal. I keep watching my friend Anirban (Lahiri) playing with all these top stars, and to be able to play with guys like Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka really inspires me.”
Bhullar, one of the straightest hitters of the golf ball, has also set his sights on some stats-related goals.
“In 2021 and ’22, I struggled a bit with my driving. Even though I was playing well and the stats were still saying that I was hitting a lot of fairways, I was just not happy with my driving accuracy. I worked a lot on my driver last year and the result was that I won the driving accuracy on the Asian Tour. I think I achieved close to 82 per cent fairway,” said Bhullar.
“Once you are on the fairway, you don’t have much pressure. You know that whatever happens, I’d end up making a par for sure. That is one of my goal this year that I’m going to be consistent in my use of driver. Also, last year I was quite good with my putting inside eight feet. To continue doing that is on top of my agenda. The years I’ve performed well in driving and putting, I have won and contended in tournaments.
“Scrambling is one stat I would love to improve. I thought that’s where I failed a bit last two seasons (he was 72nd in the scrambling in 2023 at 54 per cent).”
Gaganjeet pictured after round four with the winner’s trophy on Sunday August 7, 2022 of the Mandiri Indonesia Open 2022 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, Jakarta, Indonesia. The US$500,000 Asian Tour event is staged from August 4-7, 2022. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
Bhullar hasn’t played much golf in his six weeks of off-season, instead focusing on his body and mind.
“I mostly stayed away from golf. Spent a lot of time with family. But through this time off, I’ve been working a lot on my fitness, because I won’t get much time from February all the way until May or June. So, I worked the last five weeks on my body – my balance, the core and the glutes,” said Bhullar.
“I reckoned this was the time to do it and get the body in shape. Once the tournament starts, you want to focus on how you practice, what you eat and how you travel. The fitness level will go down over the next 4-5 months, so I need it to be high up at the start of the season.”
Working on his mental strength has been an ongoing process for the Indian.
“I don’t have a swing coach right now. I personally give more importance to the mental side. I’ve worked with several psychologists and self-hypnosis experts in the past. I feel once you have achieved that calmness in your mind, the swing, the short game and the timing, everything finds its own route… everything comes back into the game,” he explained.
“The last three years, I’ve been working with Dr Tarun Jain. We have been brainstorming on a lot of things, like how my body reacts under pressure. What I need to do better under pressure? How my body reacts in summer weather, and how is it different from the winters. I give a lot of data to him, and we try to come up with a good masterplan for each week.”
A refreshed Bhullar can’t wait to return to the golf course, the excitement heightened by the fact that the IRS Prima Malaysian Open is being played at Mines Resort, a golf course he loves.
“I was talking to my mum and dad a couple of days ago. They were there in Malaysia 12 years ago, when I played at the Mines and I had a top-10 finish in the CIMB Championship against all the PGA Tour stars. It was a long time ago, but still feels like as if it was part of last year’s schedule,” he reminisced.
“The golf course really suits my eye. I played well on it back in the day, and I’m hoping that I will play even better now.”
The Asian Tour’s season-opening IRS Prima Malaysian Open marks the latest milestone in Taichi Kho’s stunning rise to fame.
On the first anniversary of his debut as a professional golfer, the 23-year-old Hong Kong player could be forgiven for reflecting proudly on a remarkable 12 months.
But befitting a young man whose stock continues to soar, Kho’s main focus and energy is on what lies ahead of him – starting at The Mines Resort & Golf Club from February 15-18.
Ahead of his maiden appearance of 2024, Kho said: “I’ve been working hard this off-season to stay on the path that I’ve been on … not changing too much, just refining a few things.
HONG KONG- L-R- Victor Kho, father of Taichi Kho of Hong Kong hugs his son after his win on the 18th green on Sunday March 26, 2023 during Round Three of the World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club, at Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, Hong Kong. The US$ 1 million Asian Tour event was reduced to a 54 hole event due to the weather delays. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I’m not looking to become a new golfer in 2024, but just to be a little bit better every day across all parts of my game.”
If he achieves that, then Kho will be set fair for a second successive memorable year among the ranks of the professionals.
To say that the University of Notre Dame graduate’s first season on the Asian Tour was spectacular would be a huge under-statement.
In winning the World City Championship last March, he became the first Hong Kong golfer to taste victory on the Asian Tour. In October, he brought further glory to the Special Administrative Region of China when claiming the individual gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Not too bad for a player who began 2023 as an amateur and who was listed as 1,357th in the Official World Golf Ranking. By the end of the year he was the little matter of 970 places better off in 387th spot.
With four other top-10 finishes to go with his famous Hong Kong Golf Club win, Kho placed ninth in the Asian Tour’s 2023 Order of Merit standings. In so doing, he clinched the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year accolade.
He said: “It (2023) was an incredible rookie year for me and to win the Asian Tour Rookie of The Year was a true honour.
Taichi with his 2023 Asian Games gold medal. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I am grateful to the Asian Tour for providing a platform for me and many others to showcase our golfing talents around the world. I have made so many great experiences thanks to them.
“The Asian Tour, along with The International Series, helped me see what world-class golf is like and it definitely inspired me to improve myself every day.
“There are so many people I want to thank for the successes of last year, most notably my parents – Yoko Kikuchi and Victor Kho – my coaches Jonathan Wallett and Mark Mossip, my trainer Leo Tong, my management team at Octagon, and, of course, everyone at the Asian Tour.”
Although there was much to celebrate during 2023, it says much about Kho’s character and mindset that the most important lesson he learned all year just happened to be his most high-profile ‘failure’.
By virtue of his World City Championship win, Kho qualified for the 151st Open Championship. But his Major debut didn’t turn out as planned.
On the opening day at Royal Liverpool, he ran up seven bogeys in his opening nine holes followed by a quintuple-bogey 10 on the 18th that added up to a 12-over-par 83 and left him propping up the 156-man field.
Despite a six-stroke improvement on day two, it was a chastening week for Kho – but one which he now believes was a crucial part in his golfing education.
Reflecting on the highs and lows of 2023, Kho said: “Winning the World City Championship is something that I’ll remember forever. To win in front of my parents, friends, and local support was more than I have ever dreamed of.
“But I think the most valuable experience from last year would have to be the Open Championship. I wasn’t playing my best golf leading up to the tournament, and had a tough performance that week.
“But just being in that atmosphere and learning from the world’s best really helped me progress as a golfer. From then on, I was able to really apply my learnings and had a great second half of the year, highlighted by the Asian Games win.”
Taichi during the SJM Macao Open. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Given what transpired at Royal Liverpool, Kho is keen for an opportunity to return to The Open Championship as soon as possible.
With this week’s IRS Prima Malaysian Open being afforded Open Qualifying Series Asia status by The R&A, you can be sure that Kho will be eyeing a top-three finish which would secure him a starting spot at Royal Troon in July for the 152nd Open Championship – and a shot at redemption.
The feelings for a professional golfer, at the start of a new season, are almost like the ones everyone around the world gets on New Year’s Day – a wave of hope and optimism washing away the heartbreaks and frustration of the previous year. Story by Joy Chakravarty.
Exactly 60 days after the last putt dropped at Riyadh Golf Club and crowned the exciting Thai star Denwit Boriboonsub as champion of the season-ending Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund, action on the Asian Tour resumes this week with the IRS Prima Malaysian Open.
The US$1million tournament at Kuala Lumpur’s storied Mines Resort & Golf Club kicks off a 2024 season that promises to be bigger, better and richer than ever before and continues to bring life-changing playing opportunities for the region’s finest. Malaysia’s Gavin Green (pictured) is one of the favourites.
Players like Denwit, Zimbabwean Kieran Vincent, Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma and American Andy Ogletree are just a few names from 2023 who made the most of the chances that came their way.
Denwit Boriboonsub of Thailand celebrates on the 18th green on Sunday December 17, 2023 after the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund at Riyadh Golf Club. The US$ 1 million season ending Asian Tour event is staged from December 14-16, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The talented 19-year-old Denwit won three tournaments in three weeks – Saudi Aramco Invitational on the Asian Development Tour, the Thailand Open on All Thailand Golf Tour and then went back to Saudi for the Saudi Open and defeated superstar Swede Henrik Stenson for his first win on the Asian Tour. Just like Tom Kim in the recent past, the Thai has become the poster boy and a shining example of what good golf on the Asian Tour can do to a career.
Ogletree was on the other end of the spectrum, playing the Tour’s International Series events as a LIV Golf member. The 25-year-old from Little Rock, Mississippi, chose it as his pathway back to LIV Golf, and did a pretty good job of it. He won two International Series events to not just top The International Series Order of Merit, but also ended the season as the Asian Tour number one.
Kieran, younger brother of Scott Vincent, who is already an established member of Iron Heads on LIV Golf, and Kozuma were among the 35-odd Asian Tour players who qualified for the Promotions tournament in Abu Dhabi and clinched two of three available cards.
The Asian Tour members will also get a chance to qualify for the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon through two Open Qualifying Series events – three spots at this week’s IRS Prima Malaysian Open and two at the Kolon Korea Open in June.
More good news that came early for the Tour was the return of Malaysia to the schedule. The country, with a history of hosting big tournaments in the past, last held the Malaysian Open in March 2020, after which the world shut down due to the pandemic.
The Tour also announced yesterday that the Karen Classic in Kenya will be launched this July meaning 21 tournaments across 13 countries are currently confirmed, with a significant number still to be added.
The Mines Resort & Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur, venue for this week’s season-opening IRS Prima Malaysian Open. Picture by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, is confident of going past the 2023 mark of 23 events and total prize money of US$35 million.
Cho said: “The strength and depth of the Asian Tour’s 2024 schedule is reflective of the phenomenal growth we have been enjoying and we are already excited about what the new year will bring.
“The International Series events, combined with our central column of established tournaments, form the backbone of the Tour. We look forward to announcing other premier events in due course.”
In 2024, each International Series tournament will have a prize purse of US$2 million or more. But they are much more than just good prize money events. They offer crucial international exposure for the Asian Tour members and test their skills against much stronger fields.
The season’s first International Series tournament is next week at the demanding Al Mouj course in Muscat, Oman.
Another big challenge players will face, particularly in 2024, is that the Paris Olympics is this year, with the men’s event being played from August 1-4. Several players will jostle to qualify for their country, and with the Official World Golf Ranking the sole criterion, every tournament in the first half of the season assumes added importance, with the cut-off date June 17.
So, let the games begin with the 55th staging of Malaysia’s National Open.
The Asian Tour announced today it will stage an additional event on the African continent this year with a new tournament, the Karen Classic – which will be played at Karen Country Club, in Nairobi, Kenya from July 11-14.
In yet another example of the Tour broadening its reach, the ground-breaking full-field tournament will boast prize money of US$750,000.
Said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour: “This latest exciting addition to our ever-expanding schedule is a hugely significant development for the Asian Tour, our members, and our growing number of followers.
“It will mark the fifth African nation we have visited and to be scheduled the week after the International Series Morocco, it forms part of an exciting two-event swing on the continent that will truly enhance our tournament calendar.
Karen Country Club.
“We thank Karen Country Club and look forward to introducing Kenya’s golfing community to one of Asia’s fastest growing sporting properties, the Asian Tour.”
“We are very happy to provide a bridge between Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia with Kenya leading the way. I am positive that the tournament will be a runaway success and our members will enjoy this amazing opportunity to experience such a special destination which is famous for its amazing terrain and wildlife.”
Karen Country Club, who have hosted the country’s National Open on 11 occasions and is only 30 minutes from the nation’s world-renowned Safari parks, are the promoter of the all-new event and are excited about this new opportunity.
“The Karen Classic allows us to look east and explore mutually beneficial areas of development. We are extremely proud of what Karen Country Club has achieved and its status on the African continent. As a club, we have demonstrated the capacity to host international golf tournaments time and time again. We will also be able to showcase our premier facilities to the international sporting community. This new tournament will add a new dimension to the Asian Tour, and we can’t wait to welcome its players and staff,” said Muema Muindi Chairman of Karen Country Club.
Karen Country Club.
Bryan Sun, Golf Director, Karen Country Club, added: “Our aspiration is to be the premier golf destination in East Africa and hosting the Asian Tour is a testament to the work we have put into making that happen.”
And Ali Mohamed Tournament Director and Chairman of the International Committee at Karen Country Club said: “I have had the privilege to witness the exponential growth of golf in Kenya and the increasing interest of international players and spectators in our country’s golfing scene. The collaboration with the Asian Tour will undoubtedly elevate the stature and positioning of Karen Country Club within the global golfing community. Overall, the collaboration with the Asian Tour will cement Karen Country Club’s position as a premier golfing destination in Africa and create numerous opportunities for growth and development in golf.”
The Karen Classic will be the ninth leg of the Asian Tour, which is expected to boast 25 tournaments in total this year – with Kenya being one of its many remarkable and alluring destinations.
The Tour first visited Africa for the Mauritius Open in 2016, and returned there in 2017, 2018, and 2019, while in 2017 it went to the Joburg Open in South Africa and in 2018 the South African Open. In 2022 the Tour held International Series events in Morocco and Egypt.
The Asian Tour’s new season starts this Thursday at the IRS Prima Malaysian Open, which is being played at The Mines Resort and Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur.
Major winners Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell are the first two golfing superstars confirmed to tee it up at the inaugural International Series Macau presented by Wynn, taking place at Macau Golf & Country Club from 14-17 March.
Masters champion Garcia (main picture), who won the famous green jacket at Augusta National in 2017, will line up alongside US Open 2010 winner McDowell, with LIV Golf’s Crushers GC player Anirban Lahiri and Hong Kong youngster Taichi Kho, the Asian Games gold medal winner, also set to feature in a strong field as Macau makes its debut on The International Series.
Top international talent from the Asian Tour will also be battling it out for the US$2 million purse. Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut, New Zealander Ben Campbell and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, the final three winners on last year’s calendar of 10 elevated events, are in the field.
Garcia, who has claimed a remarkable 36 tournament wins worldwide, including six on the Asian Tour in China, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, said: “I’ve always enjoyed playing in the region throughout my career, and I’m excited about playing in Macau and competing against some genuine talent from the Asian Tour.”
Graeme McDowell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The Ryder Cup legend, who is now the captain of the all-Spanish Fireballs GC on the LIV Golf League, added: “I’ve heard a lot about the venue and how excited some of the players are about it, so it would be great to pick up another win in Asia here.”
On Sunday he was beaten by Chilean Joaquin Niemann on the fourth playoff hole at LIV Golf Mayakoba – the opening event of this year’s LIV Golf League.
Former Ryder Cup team-mate and new Smash GC member McDowell, who triumphed in Macau last November at a spectacular rooftop challenge to unveil the inaugural International Series Macau presented by Wynn, added: “I am excited to be back in the Vegas of Asia.
“It’s an amazing destination, and as soon as I saw the calendar, I pencilled it in. It fits my schedule well and like other events on The International Series, playing in a strong field at a world-class destination gives me a wonderful opportunity to stay sharp and competitive.”
The tournament is the second of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour that offer increased prize funds, world-class destinations, and a pathway to the LIV Golf League for golfers from all over the globe through its season-long rankings system. It follows the International Series Oman on the schedule, and is the fourth event of the Asian Tour season.
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “Bringing The International Series to Macau is a milestone moment, and it is fitting that we can confirm Sergio and Graeme, two Major winners, among a strong field for our first ever event here.
“The International Series Macau presented by Wynn is a perfect fit for our model and another example of the growth and success of our brand.
“We are committed to bringing elite-level golf to international markets and offering players from around the globe the chance to compete with the best players on the Asian Tour, at incredible destinations, for elevated prize purses and a pathway onto LIV Golf.”
The partnership was announced between The International Series and Wynn, the world’s leading luxury integrated resort developer and operator, last year.
Ms. Linda Chen, President and Vice Chairman of the Board of Wynn Macau Limited said: “We are proud to sponsor the very first International Series Macau, part of a new elite tier of sporting events and entertaining offerings in Asia. This world-class golf tournament underscores our commitment to supporting the Macao SAR Government’s ‘1+4’ diversification development strategy, growing the sports industry, and strengthening the city’s position as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.”
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